[Blindtlk] My article

[Ericka]

Verynice Adriejana!

Ericka Short
 from my iPhone 6+

> On Sep 4, 2017, at 6:46 AM, adrijana prokopenko via blindtlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Some people stated that they had difficulties finding my articlee
> that appeared in "The Kentucky cardinal", so feel free to read it
> here!
> 
> 2017 NFB National Convention Perspective
> The excitement of a National Federation of the Blind annual convention
> is something that can hardly be described unless you have had the
> opportunity to experience it for yourself in person.  Although many
> individuals from around the world may never be able to experience this
> event in person, the advent of technology allows people from all over
> the world to participate in the NFB national convention through live
> streaming.  One individual shares her diary of thoughts as she
> experienced her first national convention held in Orlando, Florida
> this summer through the miracle of technology.
> A Unique Perspective
> by Adrijana Prokopenko
> NFB diary
> July 10
> Excitement is in the air for many people going to convention and lots
> more that can't go including me. Looking forward to finding out what
> is in store. Making a list to make sure I have everything at hand
> while convention is streaming, so I don't have to get out of the room
> - looking for things. Water, ice coffee,  snacks, mouthwash, cups,
> spoon, tissues  and wet wipes  on the shelf, brailler and braille
> paper for taking notes next to me, the phone near the computer on
> silent mode, doors closed to prevent outside noise, Skype and Facebook
> opened for immediate communication with members that are there at the
> spot.
> July 11
> Some great presentations regarding technology equipment like orCam and
> braille devices that have been improved over the years. The thought of
> being able to access information as the sighted with not much hustle
> is great enough, just hope the price is right for everyone; otherwise,
> some people may miss out on it again.
> July 12
> The Job fair seems to have brought some cool things, as someone
> recommended my Facebook group to people from employment divisions,
> like lighthouse and different companies. I was even chatting live with
> someone like that getting contact info of one of them to be able to
> email her with more!
> July 13
> Lots of work today, trying to hunt down exactly the names of companies
> that are out there so people can meet them live and get their job ads
> and include them into my job group. Also following the progress of
> convention from the stream and members that are already there posting
> on the groups and to me privately. Everyone seems to be enjoying
> convention, including Ciera, the fearful high school girl who thought
> that the NFB wasn't for her. NFB related messages spread on the
> groups' big time! It is great they are opening the stream 30 minutes
> early, so we could feel the atmosphere and hear some informal chat
> there! As Arianna enjoyed exploring her dad's watch and feeling
> overjoyed that she will have to announce the National Federation of
> the Blind name to mark the start of the meeting, I could see how kids
> could grow into the federation and have fond memories of it. Practice
> from the performing arts division in front of the veterans and
> more...recognition for their work from others and probably way more
> that happened during other events that aren't streamed. Me being the
> student that I am, I keep learning the NFB lessons as before, so
> lesson number 3 goes, stick being a federations in the true sense of
> the word, no matter how close or far you live. And lesson number 4
> goes, the NFB site always has surprises, so keep checking and
> scrolling to find them. Even though advertisements about the Nations
> Blind Podcast didn't appear anywhere before, I could find it from the
> audio link and start listening to it to keep up with what is going on!
>  Dick Davis had an interview on 1520wbzw, so had to spread the info
> far and wide beforehand so people can listen in.  Seems like the KNFB
> Reader is also expanding its features to become even more accurate and
> the brother of Victor Stream was just born to help those who want to
> get it with mobility at the same time. Feels very rewarding to be able
> to do all this work even from afar!
> July 14
> I'm already getting replies from companies that they are joining my
> group and supporting the idea, praying this would bring some cool
> things for many.   Lots of money talk at convention today, which made
> me feel inadequate  for not being able to provide any, but promising I
> will fix this next  year. If nothing else, I can send a door prize and
> surprise someone!   As presidents got reelected and kept sharing their
> enthusiasm, others shared experiences on growing up with blindness and
> lack of opportunities and how they became the way they are to help
> others, which shows if you really want to do something, you can
> probably find a way to do it! Hopefully discrimination would be less
> talked about when it comes to blind parents, students and jobseekers
> rights, as many of us hope for by what was being said. So many Emails
> given out at convention were inaccurate.  I'm glad I wrote to them
> first to test before I spread the info out about the NFB news...line
> echo testing, radio station interview, job related emails, and address
> information. So lesson number 5 may be, when people get excited, some
> addresses can go wrong! Smile. Also glad that I subscribed to the
> press release email list and presidential reports link. I wish someone
> had told me about these things way back when I became a member! Don't
> think any of this was mentioned in the new member pack and I think it
> would be useful for any new member and anyone else who is truly
> interested to help the NFB.
> July 15
> An exciting day today, don't want to miss the banquet or anything else
> by falling asleep, so dividing my sleep hours so I can stay up and
> listen.  What a great thing to hear that companies and organizations
> can work together to achieve things, even if change is slower and
> things take time, no one said no at convention so far to the
> president's words, which made me gain whole new respect for
> conventions like this one because of this. If it was a roundtable in
> Macedonia, the discussions would have probably gone nowhere and
> everyone would have blamed the other for all our problems.   Prizes
> and awards going to deserving professionals once more, which  may
> probably bring many great things for them and the rest they are
> connected to, to even keep achieving greater things together and stay
> together in the fight! What can be better than that?
> As the banquet gets going and prizes get drawn, it's exciting to hear
> who gets  recognized for drawing in the largest number of people and
> raising the  most money, people cheering for certain individuals and
> their own  state, loud enough to hear even with the sound  trouble! As
> Dr. Maurer gives little NFB facts and stories from the past and lets
> people get ready for the main thing, excitement goes greater about
> what is to follow. As singers start introducing each other and invite
> everyone to  join in, I can't help but get to sing with them and pull
> the headset  out of the computer for the whole house to hear, not
> minding that it  is one AM where I am! As songs go in a faster mood,
> people get to clap and dance around in their limited space in the
> crowd. As the video for the students' scholarship and sponsors starts,
> we are having a chance to learn more about everyone that is involved
> in the deal, hoping that they will continue to support the
> organization as greatly in the future. As students recite their little
> songs especially created for  the occasion and prizes get drawn, I
> can't help but want to suggest  that it may serve a great purpose if
> some are given in products and  not money, because this would benefit
> both the organization and the  people that receive and purchase them
> from. As amazon gives out a certain amount of money for every product
> you buy from certain organizations, it may actually benefit the NFB to
> get their own products from there and get back some of the money in
> for the organization. As many people are also recognized and skilled
> for doing different things, from music to crafts and other things, if
> they have a way to show their products in front of such a large
> audience, it may be a great pathway for them to be able to keep
> promoting and getting their products to others that they don't even
> know much about! That way everyone would feel equal and it wouldn't
> give an impression that only sponsors and people that put in the big
> money are greatly promoted at convention and since the organization
> keeps tracks and cares for all its members, it would be a nice thing
> to know that people are thought of at all times and their talents and
> skills are always recognized and appreciated. With the banquet address
> starting and the room getting quieter, the serious business starts
> that will hopefully give us the great address for a greater tomorrow.
> As science and technology advance and take a great  part in blind
> peoples' lives if they are able to afford  it, our power  to change
> things for a better tomorrow for us and our children is even  greater
> than ever, if we possess all the skills and knowledge to be  able to
> do this nonvisual. As we stick together and share what we have and can
> do, it is the only way that will bring us and many others forward. As
> these years' scholarship students come to shake hands with former and
> current presidents, Marc Maurer and Mark Riccobono, Kurzweil inventor,
> Ray Kurzwiel and others, let's hope that they would be the ones that
> would be the great movers and shakers of the organization in the best
> way they know how!
> About the author: I'm Adrijana Prokopenko and I was born on February
> 02 1979 in Skopje, Macedonia. I attended primary school at the state
> school for blind children in my own city, then went to mainstream high
> school and after that spent a year at the Overbrook school for the
> blind in 1998and 1999 learning blindness skills.
> After that, I did my English teaching degree at Eastern Mediterranean
> University in North Cyprus from 1999 to 2003. After coming back to my
> country, I have been doing volunteer work to help the blind and have
> been the founding member of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that
> helps disabled people with assistive technology. I have been working
> as a teacher of English at the same school I studied since 2007.
> 
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